Page 2 of Torin and the Two Crowns
What if he…. gulp… died?
“Torin?”
No answer, so I said it again, “Torin?”
“…Och…”
He slowly pulled his weight off my back.
“Were you sleeping?”
There was a long exhale, then he said, “Nae…”
“I was worried, I thought you fell asleep.”
“… Nae… canna sleep on Cathbarr, tis unseemly... I might fall off.. Cathbarr would lose all respect.” His voice was low, tired sounding, the words coming slowly, as if with effort.
“You fell off him right back there.”
He chuckled, low, “That wanna falling off... twas a dismount.”
“Yet you didn’t land on your feet.”
“…Tis all intent. Cathbarr winna hold a poorly executed dismount against me... but tae fall asleep... slide off unawares... he would never respect me again...”
His voice sounded strained, he was being funny, but it clearly covered pain.
The rain fell in sheets now, cold and relentless, turning the world into a gray blur of hills and water. I leaned forward in the saddle, one hand on Cathbarr’s wet mane, the other resting lightly over Torin’s good arm where it circled my waist. His grip was weaker than I liked, his breath warm and ragged against my neck.
“Torin? Just checking in, are you still with me?”
“…aye, and ye are frettin’ again, mo leannan.” His voice sounded rough with pain. “I am nae dead yet.”
“Not yet? I will be so furious if you die, you aren’t allowed to.”
He gave a weak chuckle that turned into a hiss as Cathbarr’s hoof slipped on the damp turf.
When he recovered his strength he said, “...Cathbarr, nae more missteps, ye heard the Princess, I am nae allowed tae die. Ye arna allowed tae kill me.”
I said, “God, I hate all of this.”
We rode high along a narrow path, the firth glittering far below to our right. Dunstaffnage’s broken towers faded behind us in the downpour. Torin had insisted on going south toward Oban and the inn, but every jolt seemed to drain him further.
I didn’t know much about first aid, but the bullet graze on his hip and the deep blade cut on his shoulder needed proper tending. Stat. We needed a doctor, but there wasn’t one for centuries, just me and a first aid kit.
And no shelter.
To get my mind off of it I started a conversation. “I’m dreaming about a warm hearth.”
He was quiet.
“Torin?”
“Aye.”
“Did you fall asleep again?”
“I daena hae strength tae speak.”
